In alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) has initiated the Smart SEAstems for Marine Reclamation Challenge. The program seeks to address the environmental impact of abandoned or "ghost" fishing nets, which currently rely on reactive management through manual inspections. The challenge calls for innovators to design and deploy smart, scalable systems that can proactively protect, monitor, and sustain the marine environment. The objective is to move beyond current methods by introducing solutions that provide real-time visibility and effective intervention for the tracking, detection, and mitigation of fishing nets throughout their lifecycle.
Challenge Mission and Solution Requirements
• Solution Focus: Develop an advanced marine environment intelligence solution for the scalable monitoring and recovery of fishing nets.
• Technological Approach: Leverage digital identifiers, autonomous retrieval systems, or impact-limiting net designs to reduce ecosystem degradation and fish mortality.
• Operational Environment: Solutions must demonstrate mechanical robustness and the capability to operate in high-salinity Gulf waters.
• Performance Metrics: The system must deliver location accuracy within ±10 meters and demonstrate reliability at depths of 15–20 meters for the Proof of Concept, with a clear pathway to operate at depths of up to 60 meters.
• Accountability: Include a secure method to associate nets with operator identification to ensure accountability and enable practical intervention.
Opportunities and Incentives
• Funding: Receive up to USD 100,000 in cash contributions from QRDI to support solution development, awarded on a case-by-case basis depending on the project proposal.
• Collaboration: Work directly with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) on a high-impact national marine conservation challenge.
• In-Kind Contributions: Gain access to relevant data, designated marine testing sites, and necessary hardware components for development and deployment.
• Mentorship: Receive mentorship and support for solution development.
• Market Exposure: Explore opportunities for commercial deployment across Qatar’s full Exclusive Economic Zone and potentially the wider GCC and global markets.
Eligibility
• Eligible Applicants: The challenge is open to Startups and SMEs with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 or higher.
Program Timeline
• Scouting Phase: February 1st - April 14th, 2026. Participants can sign up, complete the participation form, and submit a proposal deck. A webinar with MoECC and QRDI will be held on March 26th.
• Application Deadline: April 14th, 2026.
• Shortlisting Phase: Mid-Late April 2026. MoECC and QRDI will review all proposals to identify potential solution providers.
• Evaluation Phase: May - June 2026. Shortlisted innovators will engage in in-depth technical discussions with MoECC teams.
• Awarding: July - August 2026. The final announcement of matched innovators will be made.
This initiative presents a significant opportunity for innovators to contribute to the next generation of marine protection. By developing transparent, data-driven, and scalable marine reclamation solutions, participants can play a key role in reducing fish mortality, preventing damage to critical offshore infrastructure, and shaping the future of environmental sustainability through real-time, smart intelligence.